The Complete Idiot's Guide to Seed Saving And Starting

by Sheri Ann Richerson

Mouthwatering heirlooms, exciting hybrids, sensational herbs, colorful flowers—you dream of a garden overflowing with vibrant, healthy plants. Turn your dream garden into reality with seeds you save and start yourself! With easy ideas on harvesting, storing, sowing and nurturing your seeds into flourishing plants, this helpful guide gives you a sure path from start to success. In it, you    • A look at seed and plant anatomy and how pollination works.
   • Simple suggestions for identifying seeds to save, and for gathering and prepping seeds for next year's garden.
   • Guidance on germinating seeds, indoors or out, using scarification or stratification.
   • Tips for transplanting, thinning, hardening off, and protecting seedlings from weather, pests and disease.
   • Easy ideas for cross-breeding plants and creating hybrids suited to your garden and climate.
   • A comprehensive directory of botanical names and harvesting, germination, and sowing data for hundreds of plants.
The Complete Idiot's Guide To Seed Saving And Starting is an essential resource to reap richer results with plants grown from your own seeds!

Genres: Gardening

320 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2012

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very well-written. Some good tidbits but annoying to dig through.

I'm guessing the problem came in making this a "Complete Idiot's Guide to..." book. Next time, just write the book about seeds and leave the empty template empty...

[Book Nibbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great basic book about starting to germinate and sow seeds. I will definitely buy this book to keep as a reference.
Chapters include:
-How to save seeds
-Preparing seeds for storage
-Storing seeds
-Germinating and testing your seeds
-Scarification and stratification
-Sowing seeds indoors
-Sowing seeds outdoors
-Transplanting seedlings
And a ton of different lists of plants and when it's best to sow the seeds.

[Mollie *scoutrmom* · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned little, it was aimed much lower than my experience level. Might be better appreciated by a novice gardener.

I know the title says Complete Idiot's Guide, but the patronizing tone bordered on demeaning. On the other hand, it was chock-full of information, even though I already knew most.

[Kami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic information.

[Karen Soanes]

For my first summer of attempting seed collecting and saving this is a useful book. Straightforward and practical with specifics for individual types of plants.